Folding top for a cabriolet vehicle

ABSTRACT

A folding top for a convertible vehicle includes a rear shell component, at least one front shell component, and a central shell component. The at least one front shell component, the central shell component and the rear shell component are able to be arranged as a top over an interior of the convertible vehicle in a closed condition. The at least one front shell component and the central shell component are able to be deposited in a rear area of the convertible vehicle using a first positive control mechanism. The rear shell component can be deposited in the rear area of the convertible vehicle using a second positive control mechanism. The rear shell component is mounted on a rear element that at least partially covers the rear area of the convertible vehicle. In an open condition of the top, the rear element at least partially covers the rear shell component.

The present invention relates to a folding top for a convertible vehiclein accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

In the construction of modern convertible vehicles, increasing use isbeing made of convertible tops that comprise hard shell components thatare connected to the body of the vehicle by positive control mechanisms,designed for example as link mechanisms and can be transferredautomatically by means of these positive control mechanisms from aclosed condition of the top to an open condition of the top, the hardshell components being deposited in a rear area of the vehicle in theopen condition of the top.

DE 198 05 477 C1 discloses a top for a convertible vehicle, in which thetop comprises two hard shell roof components, which are both fixed toone chain of links and can be deposited in a rear area of the vehicle bymeans of a drive of the chain of links during an opening process of thetop. An arrangement of this kind, comprising two hard shell roofcomponents, is not suitable for covering relatively large interiors ofvehicles with, for example, four or more seats.

DE 199 34 673 C1 discloses a hard top for a convertible vehicle, inwhich a front, a central and a rear hard shell roof component are fixedon a common chain of links. Owing to the configuration of the chain oflinks, the front hard shell roof component is deposited over the centralhard shell roof component when the top is opened, the central hard shellroof component coming to rest above the rear hard shell roof component,which has been transferred to a reversed position, in a rear area of thevehicle. It has proven disadvantageous here that the reversed convexityof the central and rear hard shell roof components in the depositedposition does not contribute to optimum usage of the space in the reararea of the vehicle. Moreover, the rear window, which is generallyprovided in the rear shell component, faces an eventually remainingloading space of the vehicle underneath the stack of roof shellcomponents, promoting damage to the rear window when the vehicle isbeing loaded.

DE 196 42 152 A1 discloses a top for a convertible vehicle, in which afront, a central and a rear hard shell roof component are fixed on achain of links in such a way that, when the top is opened, the frontroof component comes to rest underneath the central roof component andthe central roof component comes to rest underneath the rear roofcomponent, and furthermore a further drive apparatus in the rear area ofthe vehicle pivots a rear window, which can be inserted in the rear roofcomponent, separately away from the stack of roof components.

Overall, the arrangement of all the roof components of a convertible topon a single chain of links has disadvantages inasmuch as the chain oflinks has to be of very sturdy design, leading to higher costs.Moreover, the restriction to a single, positively controlled link chainlimits the flexibility of the design in respect of the size ratios ofthe roof parts, in respect of the precise deposited position and inrespect of the sequence and orientation of the roof parts in thedeposited position.

It is the object of the invention to provide a folding top for aconvertible vehicle, in which the shell components of the top can bedeposited in a rear area of a vehicle in a particularly space-savingmanner.

According to the invention, this object is achieved, in the case of aninitially mentioned folding top for a convertible vehicle, with thecharacterizing features of claim 1.

According to the invention, two positive control mechanisms areprovided, the first positive control mechanism moving the front and thecentral shell component and the second positive control mechanism movingthe rear shell component, with the advantageous result that all theshell components are no longer arranged on a common chain of links.

In a preferred development of a folding top according to the invention,a rear element that can be pivoted counter to the direction of travel isprovided, which can be pivoted open during the opening movement of thetop and covers the deposited shell components of the top after beingclosed. At the same time, the rear shell component is preferably mountedmovably on the rear element, allowing it to be moved under the rearelement, preferably by means of a linear guide, in a combination of apivoting movement and a linear motion. A linear motion of this typemeans that the rear shell component takes up a particularly small motionspace.

It is particularly preferred if the movement of the rear shell componentrelative to the rear element and the pivoting of the rear elementrelative to the convertible vehicle can be driven by means of a secondand a third drive apparatus, enabling both motions to take placeautomatically in a correlated manner, e.g. by means of computer control.The third drive apparatus is preferably embodied as a rotary hydrauliccylinder, in which the linear motion of a hydraulic piston is convertedin a space-saving manner to a rotary motion of a drive pinion.

The first positive control mechanism preferably comprises a linkmechanism, which is fixed pivotably on the convertible vehicle by meansof a first and a second main link. The link mechanism preferablycomprises a chain made up of at least three four-bar linkages, the twomain links forming links of the first four-bar linkage and the centralshell component being fixed on the second four-bar linkage and the frontshell component being fixed on the third four-bar linkage. A chain oflinks of this kind can be driven in a known manner, allowing the frontand the central shell component to be deposited automatically in a reararea of the vehicle by a drive of the chain of links.

In a preferred embodiment, the drive of the chain of links is designedas a rotary hydraulic cylinder, ensuring a particularly space-saving andnevertheless robust drive of the chain of links. Alternatively, however,the chain of links can also be driven by means of a conventionalhydraulic or pneumatic cylinder with a connecting rod or by means of anelectric motor.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, thefront shell component is located in the same sense over the centralshell component and the rear shell component is located in the samesense over the front shell component in a deposited position of thefolding top. This allows a particularly space-saving arrangement of thedeposited shell components in an open condition of the top.

To make the folding top according to the invention sufficiently sturdy,especially in the event of an accident in which the vehicle rolls over,reinforcements are provided on the rear shell component, the rear shellcomponent forming a C pillar of the vehicle in a closed condition of thetop and the C pillar being of particularly sturdy construction owing tothe reinforcements.

In a folding top according to the invention, the rear shell component isparticularly preferably connected, in a closed state of the top, to thecentral shell component via a slotted-guide mechanism. In this case, theslotted-guide mechanism is advantageously configured in such a mannerthat, at least in one section of an opening movement of the top, theshaping of the slotted-guide mechanism forces a relative movement of thetwo shell components with respect to each other, the movementcorresponding to a pivoting movement about a pivot point situatedoutside the shell components. This ensures, using simple means, that theshell components do not collide with one another in a first section ofthe opening movement or, in a reversal of the kinematics, in a lastsection of the closing movement.

Further advantages and features of the invention will emerge from theexemplary embodiment described below and from the dependent claims.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of a folding top according to theinvention will be described below and explained in greater detail withreference to the attached drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a convertible vehicle with afolding top according to the invention in a closed condition.

FIG. 2 shows a convertible vehicle in accordance with FIG. 1 after afirst stage of an opening movement of the folding top.

FIG. 3 shows a convertible vehicle in accordance with FIG. 1 after asecond stage of an opening movement of the folding top.

FIG. 4 shows a convertible vehicle in accordance with FIG. 1 after athird stage of an opening movement of the folding top.

FIG. 5 shows a convertible vehicle in accordance with FIG. 1 after afourth stage of an opening movement of the folding top.

FIG. 6 shows the convertible vehicle in accordance with FIG. 1 with anopen folding top deposited in a rear area of the vehicle.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a detail of a folding top according to theinvention for guiding two roof parts with respect to each other.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a detail for guiding the rear shellcomponent of a folding top according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a convertible vehicle 1, in which a folding top accordingto the invention is arranged in a closed condition over an interiorspace 1 a of the vehicle. The folding top comprises a first positivecontrol mechanism 6, which is fixed in a moveable manner on theconvertible vehicle 1 by means of two main links 8, 9. Fixed on thefirst positive control mechanism 6 are a front shell component 2 and acentral shell component 3 of the folding top. A rear shell component 4of the folding top, which comprises a rigid rear window 4 a, is fixedmovably on a rear element 5 of the convertible vehicle by means of alinear guide 7. A trunk lid (not illustrated), which can be pivoted openin the direction of travel in a known manner, is arranged on the rearelement 5 to enable loading of a volume present in a rear area 1 b ofthe convertible vehicle 1.

As FIG. 8, in particular, shows in detail, the linear guide essentiallycomprises two rails 16, 17 connected fixedly to the rear element 5, thefirst rail 16 being arranged above the second rail 17. A first slider 16a is accommodated in the first rail 16 in such a manner that it can bemoved along the first rail 16. A second slider 17 a is accommodated inthe second rail 17 in such a manner that it can be moved along thesecond rail 17.A recess 17 c is provided in the upper end region of thesecond rail 17, with a lock holder 17 b, which is provided on the secondslider 17 a, overlapping with the recess 17 c in an end position of theslider 17 a.

A first holder 18 and a second holder 19 are fixed in the rear region ofthe rear shell component 4. The movable fixing of the rear shellcomponent 4 on the rear element 5 is provided firstly by the fact thatthe first holder 18 is connected in an articulated manner to the firstslider 16 a in a joint 16 b. Secondly, the second holder 19 has a pin 19a at its end. Depending on the state of the top, this pin 19 a issituated inside or outside the lock holder 17 b of the second slider 17a (see indicated positions 19 a′ and 19 a″ of FIG. 8).

FIG. 7, in particular, shows the manner in which the rear shellcomponent 4 can be fixed releasably on the central component 3. In thiscase, a latch element 15 having two pins 15 a and 15 b, which are spacedapart from each other essentially in the longitudinal direction of thevehicle, is fixed in the end region of the rear shell component, whichregion faces the central shell component. A slotted element 14 whichcorresponds to the latch element 15 and has a first slot-like recess 14a assigned to the first pin 15 a and a second slot-like recess 14 bassigned to the second pin 15 b is fixed on the central shell component3. The two slot-like recesses 14 a, 14 b are shaped differently and insuch a manner that, when the two pins 15 a, 15 b engage in theassociated, slot-like recesses 14 a, 14 b, a movement of the rear shellcomponent 4 relative to the central shell component 3 is possible onlyin the form of a pivoting movement running about a virtual pivot pointD. This movement which is forced by the interaction of the slottedelement 14 and latch element 15 prevents the mutually facing end sidesof the central shell component 3 and the rear shell component 4 fromcolliding with each other at the start of an opening process or towardthe end of a closing movement of the folding top according to theinvention. In addition, the previously described positively controlledmovement ensures that end-side seals 20 which are provided on the shellcomponents 3, 4 are moved with respect to each other in a particularlylow-wearing manner.

A first stage of an opening movement of the top is shown in FIG. 2. Inthis case, first of all, starting from the closed position of the topaccording to FIG. 1, the rear element has been pivoted open for a shortdistance counter to the direction of travel by means of a third driveapparatus 5 b. In the process, the pin 19 a, which has been describedpreviously, has been moved, starting from a position 19 a″ correspondingto the closed top, via an intermediate position 19 a′ into a positiondefined by stopping in the lock holder 17 b of the second slider whilethe rear shell component 4 has performed a rotational movement caused bythe rotational connection of the holder 18 to the first slider 16 a.This rotational movement of the rear shell component 4 with respect tothe rear element 5 can be seen in particular from a comparison of FIG. 1and FIG. 2 in respect of their relative positions with respect to eachother. During the previously described, first section of the openingmovement of the folding top according to the invention, the previouslydescribed pivoting of the rear shell component 4 with respect to thecentral component 3 about the virtual pivot point D also takes place.Approximately starting from the position of the rear shell component 4according to FIG. 2, the pins 15 a, 15 b no longer engage in theslot-like recesses 14 a, 14 b, and the rear shell component 4 is nolonger connected to the central shell component 3.

FIG. 3 shows a second stage of an opening movement of the top, in whichthe rear shell component 4 has already moved away from the central shellcomponent 3 in the direction of the vehicle rear, with the rear element5 being pivoted open counter to the direction of travel. In this case,the rear shell component 4 has been moved, by means of its previouslydescribed securing on the sliders 16 a, 17 a, along the linear guide 7and under the rear element 5. Since the first section of the openingmovement of the top (see FIG. 2) has resulted in a virtually parallelalignment of the rear shell component 4 and rear element 5, thedisplacement of the rear shell component 4 under the rear element 5proceeds in a particularly space-saving manner. The displacement alongthe linear guide 7 is carried out by means of a second drive apparatus(not illustrated).

In particular, FIG. 3 also shows that the rear shell component 4 isprovided with a reinforcement 4 b in an area in which it forms a Cpillar of the convertible vehicle 1 in the closed condition of the topin accordance with FIG. 1.

In a third stage of an opening movement of the folding top in accordancewith FIG. 4, the rear element 5 and rear shell component 4 are in thesame position as in FIG. 3. The rear element 5 is connected to theconvertible vehicle 1 by means of a four-bar linkage 5 a in the area ofa rear crossmember, which is usually arranged directly in front of arear bumper of the vehicle.

A second positive control mechanism, by means of which the rear shellcomponent 4 can be deposited in the rear area 1 b of the convertiblevehicle 1, comprises the linear guide 7 and the rear element 5.

FIG. 4 shows that, in the third stage of a top opening movement, thefront shell component 2 and the central shell component 3 are moved insuch a way by means of a movement of the first positive controlmechanism 6 under the action of a first drive apparatus 6 a that thefront shell component 2 is pivoted over the central shell component 3.As shown, in particular, in FIG. 3, the first positive control mechanismcomprises a link mechanism 6, which comprises a chain comprising a firstfour-bar linkage 10, a second four-bar linkage 11 and a third four-barlinkage 12. In this arrangement, the first main link 8 and the secondmain link 9 each form links of the first four-bar linkage 10, the baseof which is formed by the convertible vehicle 1. The coupler of thefirst four-bar linkage 10 simultaneously forms a link of the secondfour-bar linkage 11. A link of the second four-bar linkage 11simultaneously forms a base of the third four-bar linkage 12. Thecentral shell component 3 is fixed on a link of the second four-barlinkage 11. A second link of the second four-bar linkage 11 is connectedto one of the links of the third four-bar linkage 12 and thus drives thethird four-bar linkage 12, on the coupler of which the front shellcomponent 2 is fixed. The entire link mechanism 6 is driven by means ofthe drive apparatus 6 a which comprises a hydraulic cylinder 6 b and isfixed on the convertible vehicle 1. The hydraulic cylinder 6 b isconnected to at least one of the main links 8, 9 of the first four-barlinkage 10 via an intermediate link 10.

In the open position of the rear element 5 illustrated in FIG. 5, withthe rear roof component 4 pivotally connected to the rear element 5, itis possible for the front shell component 2 and the central shellcomponent 3 to pivot into the rear area 1 b of the convertible vehicle1. An end position of this pivoting motion of the front and the centralshell component 2, 3 into the rear area 1 b is shown in FIG. 5, the rearelement 5 being in an open position pivoted counter to the direction oftravel.

In a final portion of the top opening movement, the rear element 5 isnow pivoted shut again, a deposited position of the folding top thusbeing achieved in accordance with FIG. 6. Here, all three shellcomponents 2, 3, 4 are essentially in the same orientation as in theclosed condition of the folding top in accordance with FIG. 1. In thisorientation, the front shell component 2 is above the central shellcomponent 3, the rear shell component 4 being above the front shellcomponent 2. All three shell components 2, 3, 4, which are arrangedessentially in a stack one above the other, are at least partiallycovered by the rear element 5.

The space-saving arrangement of the three shell components of theillustrated preferred embodiment of a folding top according to theinvention is assisted, in particular, by the unidirectional convexity ofthe three shell components in the deposited position in accordance withFIG. 6 and by the fact that the front shell component 2 is arrangedabove the central shell component 3 and below the rear shell component4. This makes possible a smaller overall space requirement of thefolding top according to the invention in the deposited position of thetop than the overall volume theoretically enclosed by the rear shellcomponent, for example.

The pivoting of the rear shell component 4 relative to the rear element5 is accomplished by means of the second drive apparatus (notillustrated) and the pivoting of the rear element 5 relative to theconvertible vehicle 1 is accomplished by means of the third driveapparatus 5 b. Overall, therefore, a first drive apparatus 6 a fordriving the first positive control mechanism 6 and hence for pivotingthe front shell component 2 and the central shell component 3, a seconddrive apparatus (not illustrated) for displacing the rear shellcomponent 4 relative to the rear element 5, and a third drive apparatus5 b for pivoting the rear element 5 together with the rear shellcomponent 4 relative to the convertible vehicle 1 are provided. Thefirst drive apparatus 6 a and the third drive apparatus 5 b are eachembodied as hydraulic cylinders. As an alternative, however, it is alsopossible for one or more of the three drive apparatuses to be embodiedas electric motors. Automatic control of the three drive apparatuses isperformed by a common electronic control system, a well-defined sequenceof the overall opening movement of the folding top according to theinvention thus being ensured by means of the electronic control system.The electronic control system comprises both signal transmitters forswitching the electric motors or hydraulic valves and sensors forfeeding back the position of the respective drive apparatus or positivecontrol mechanism. In particular, a particularly time-saving motion withgreater esthetic appeal to the external observer during the opening andclosure of the folding top is made possible by appropriate design ofthis electronic control system, it being possible for part of theopening movement of the front and central shell components 2, 3 to takeplace even during the opening movement of the rear element or while therear shell component 4 is simultaneously being displaced relative to therear element 5.

Loading the trunk volume in the rear area 1 b with the top open inaccordance with FIG. 6 is facilitated, in particular, by theadvantageous stacking and orientation of the shell components 2, 3, 4(see FIG. 6), the fact that the rear shell component 4 is at the topeffectively preventing damage to the rear window 4 a while the trunkvolume is being loaded.

A further movable and driven element of the folding top according to theinvention is the covering device 13 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. This is acovering which is positioned in the region of a conventional rear parcelshelf, in the end positions of the folding top according to theinvention, and is connected to the convertible vehicle 1 by means of adrivable link mechanism 13 a. Driven by a dedicated drive apparatus (notillustrated) and coordinated by means of the common electronic controlsystem, the covering device 13 pivots open during the initial phase ofthe opening movement of the top (see FIGS. 2 to 5), so that sufficientmovement space is available for depositing, in particular, the front andcentral shell components 2, 3 of the folding top according to theinvention in the rear region 1 b of the convertible vehicle 1. In a lastportion of the opening movement of the top, the covering device 13pivots shut again, in which case a surface in the rear region of theconvertible vehicle 1 is formed jointly by the covering device 13 andthe rear element 5.

The closing movement of a folding top according to the invention takesplace in a corresponding manner in a reversal of the previouslydescribed kinematics.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A folding top for a convertible vehicle, comprising: a rear shell component; at least one front shell component; and a central shell component, wherein the at least one front shell component, the central shell component and the rear shell component are capable of being arranged as a top over an interior of the convertible vehicle in a closed condition, wherein the front shell component and the central shell component are capable of being deposited in a rear area of the convertible vehicle using a first positive control mechanism, wherein the rear shell component is capable of being deposited in the rear area of the convertible vehicle using a second positive control mechanism, wherein the rear shell component is mounted on a rear element that at least partially covers the rear area of the convertible vehicle, and wherein, in an open condition of the top, the rear element at least partially covers the rear shell component.
 23. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second positive control mechanism comprises a linear guide.
 24. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first positive control mechanism comprises a link mechanism, and wherein a first main link and a second main link of the link mechanism are fixed pivotably on the convertible vehicle.
 25. The folding top as claimed in claim 24, wherein the link mechanism comprises a chain that includes a first four-bar linkage, a second four-bar linkage and a third four-bar linkage, wherein the central shell component is fixed on the second four-bar linkage and the front shell component is fixed on the third four-bar linkage, and wherein the first and the second main links are links of the first four-bar linkage.
 26. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first positive control mechanism is drivable using a first drive apparatus.
 27. The folding top as claimed in claim 26, wherein the first drive apparatus comprises a hydraulic or pneumatic drive cylinder.
 28. The folding top as claimed in claim 26, wherein the first drive apparatus comprises a rotary hydraulic cylinder.
 29. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the rear shell component is mounted on the rear element using a linear guide.
 30. The folding top as claimed in claim 29, wherein the linear guide comprises a first rail and a second rail disposed below the first rail.
 31. The folding top as claimed in claim 30, wherein the rear shell component is connected in a rotatable and linearly movable manner to one of the first and second rails.
 32. The folding top as claimed in claim 30, wherein the rear shell component is releasably fixable on one of the rails.
 33. The folding top as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second positive control mechanism comprises the rear element and the linear guide.
 34. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the rear shell component is moveable relative to the rear element using the second positive control mechanism.
 35. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second positive control mechanism is drivable by means of a second drive apparatus.
 36. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a third drive apparatus for pivoting the rear element.
 37. The folding top as claimed in claim 36, wherein the second positive control mechanism comprises the third drive apparatus.
 38. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the rear element is pivotable relative to the convertible vehicle counter to the direction of travel.
 39. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the front shell component is disposed over the central shell component and the rear shell component is arranged over the front shell component in a deposited position, each of the front, central and rear shell components being oriented in the same direction.
 40. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the rear shell component forms a C pillar, provided with a reinforcement, of the convertible vehicle in the closed condition.
 41. The folding top as claimed in claim 22, wherein the rear shell component is releasably fixed on the central shell component using a slotted-guide mechanism in the closed state of the folding top, the slotted-guide mechanism being shaped in such a manner that, at least during part of the opening movement of the folding top, the slotted guide mechanism forces a pivoting of the rear roof part relative to the central roof part about a virtual pivot point D disposed at a distance from the roof parts. 